On Thu, 3 Apr 2008 16:53:41 -0700 (PDT), Tim
wrote:

On Apr 3, 7:37*pm, John H. wrote:
On Thu, 3 Apr 2008 15:47:12 -0700 (PDT), Tim wrote:
On Apr 3, 3:41*pm, "JimH" wrote:
"Robert M. Gary" wrote in ...
On Apr 3, 9:29 am, John H. wrote:

Make sure you get a chance to have the boat and engine inspected before
plunking down your money!

Everyone says that as a kind of CYA. However, in truth paying $800 to
inspect a boat that is otherwise pretty new and been maintained (with
documentation) by a well-known shop may not be best bang-for-buck.

-Robert
==============

It cost me $385 to have my 20 footer surveyed. *The survey included the
structure, mechanics and a compression test on the engine.

I would never buy a used boat without having it surveyed.

I'm no expert, but I bought both of my boats without a survey or a
"sea trial" *The prices were right, and I'm no expert, but I can check
stuff out fairly well. Been well satisfied with what I have.

Tim, didn't your boats cost less than a survey would have?

Seems to me you got a pretty good deal on those guys!- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Yes, they did. i feel quite fortunate. I did buy them off ebay, and I
did ask some questions. But the neat thing abotu it is that i didn't'
bit more than I thought I could afford to lose. I mean, even if they
were dissapointing, I could have scrapped them out and sold off the
parts for more than I gave for them.

Actually i feel prettyproud of myself. the little 18' Chris was
1500.00 USD and has been a blast, even if a bit small. The cuddie is a
77 Marquis 23' and even though cosmetically it was a bit lacking, via
polish
( no chalk) and needed a slight bit of cosmetic wood work, the boat is
solid as a rock. engine oil was not new but reasonably clean, filters
looked great. no oil in the bottom of the hull. I gave 1281.00 for it,
dual axle trailer w/surge brakes and all. Even with paint flaking off
the trailer I could tell the trailer had been well kept because it had
new brake lines and master cylinder installed in a moderately recent
time frame.

The boat;s 350 GM starts easily, doesn't smoke or flutter, and runs
absolutely great.

John, I think I did well, and that means that it helps make up for
past blunders... LOL!

good karma?

You can find good deals on eBay and you can find crap on eBay.

I konw of a guy who bought a Ranger 518 off eBay for a decent price -
not too high, not too low. He looked the boat over before closing the
deal and the first time he launched, the boat started shipping water.
Turns out, the seller had run the boat up on a rock and split the hull
right where the bunks were on the trailer.

You gotta be carefull on eBay.